Trump puts ‘left-wing bias’ at Facebook and Google in his sights

Donald Trump is considering establishing a panel to review complaints of anti-­conservative censorship on social media.

Donald Trump tweeted on May 16 that the “Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google”. Picture: AP

US President Donald Trump is considering establishing a panel to review complaints of anti-­conservative bias on social media, in a move that would likely draw pushback from technology companies and others.

The plans are still under discussion but could include the establishment of a White House-created commission that would examine allegations of online bias and censorship, people familiar with the matter said.

The administration could also encourage similar reviews by federal regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Election Commission, they said.

“Left-wing bias in the tech world is a concern that definitely needs to be addressed from our vantage point, and at least exposed so that Americans have clear eyes about what we’re dealing with,” a White House official said at the weekend.

Mr Trump has long expressed that viewpoint, and in a recent Twitter post indicated that a plan to address complaints of bias was in the works. “The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google,” he tweeted on May 16, adding that his administration was “working to remedy this illegal situation.”

Facebook, which also owns Instagram, defended its practices when asked for a response to the nascent proposal. “People on both sides of the aisle disagree with some of the positions we’ve taken, but we remain committed to seeking outside perspectives and communicating clearly about why we make the decisions we do,” the company said.

Twitter said it enforced its rules impartially for all users, regardless of their background or political affiliation.

A Google spokeswoman said the company built its products “with extraordinary care and safeguards to be a trustworthy source of information for everyone, without any regard for political viewpoint.”

Jon Berroya, interim president of the Internet Association, a trade group, disputed the contention that tech companies tilted to the left.

“Online platforms do not have a political bias, and offer more people a chance to have their voice heard than at any point in history,” he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union’s senior legislative counsel Kate Ruane said any moves by the government carry significant risk of misfiring because of the companies’ free-speech rights and other concerns.

The administration also is considering new recommendations for revamping federal protections adopted by congress in Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which gives online companies broad immunity from liability for their users’ actions, as well as wide latitude to police content.

The Wall Street Journal